My Way to Olympia

Take Action

Take Action Around 'My Way to Olympia'

Create a venue, either live or online, for people with physical disabilities to share their stories, including their hopes, accomplishments, frustrations and recommendations for making life in your community better. Consider inviting a Paralympian to your school or organization to speak about his or her experiences.

Work with local schools and/or youth sports leagues to provide athletic opportunities for all types of young people, including those with physical disabilities. Consider doing a special screening for coaches as part of a professional development session on inclusion.

Raise funds to sponsor a Paralympic athlete or team. If possible, attend a Paralympic event.

Work with local veterans hospitals or military bases to create athletic opportunities for wounded veterans.

Get informed about the issues in the film and lead a discussion in your community.

This guide is an invitation to dialogue. It is based on a belief in the power of human connection, designed for people who want to use this documentary to engage family, friends, classmates, colleagues and communities. In contrast to initiatives that foster debates in which participants try to convince others that they are right, this document envisions conversations undertaken in a spirit of openness in which people try to understand one another and expand their thinking by sharing viewpoints and listening actively. The discussion prompts are intentionally crafted to help a wide range of audiences think more deeply about the issues in the film. Rather than attempting to address them all, choose one or two that best meet your needs and interests. And be sure to leave time to consider taking action. Planning next steps can help people leave the room feeling energized and optimistic, even in instances when conversations have been difficult.

This list of fiction and nonfiction books, compiled by Penny Talbert and Rebecca Zinner of Ephrata Public Library, provides a range of perspectives on the issues raised by the POV documentary My Way to Olympia.